Amadeus I of Spain: A Short, Tumultuous Reign (1871-1873)
The Reign of Amadeus of Savoy (1871-1873)
A Democratic Regime Under a Monarch
Prim was tasked with consulting foreign ambassadors and conducting negotiations to establish an international consensus on the candidate for the Spanish throne. The rejection of the Portuguese dynasty and France’s opposition to the German candidate limited the possibilities. Amadeus of Savoy, a man of democratic vision, was chosen. He was elected King of Spain by the Cortes and arrived in the country through the port of
Read MoreEnlightenment, Glorious, and French Revolutions
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a European cultural movement of the 18th century, marked by a heavy reliance on reason. It criticized traditional institutions and aimed to provide knowledge. This new ideology highlighted the individual’s capacity to understand and solve societal problems through education.
Features
New ways of thinking reflected liberation of thought in all fields. Key aspects include:
Role of Nature
The Enlightenment advocated for allowing natural laws to govern. Individuals
Read MoreSocial and Political Consequences of WWI
Social Consequences
The German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman Empires disappeared because they did not survive the war. The human cost was high. On the front, there were about ten million killed, and civilian casualties from starvation and disease were also very high. Another important aspect was the psychological effect that the war had on the population, as well as the physical consequences. The brutality of the military campaigns increased due to the use of weapons with destructive power.
Read MorePost-WWI Peace Treaties & Their Consequences
Post-WWI Peace Treaties
The Peace of the Victors: Peace Treaties
The victors diverged when meeting in Paris. Wilson wanted to impose a peace based on law, respect for nations, free trade, disarmament, and democracy. France, however, wanted strong compensations.
The most important treaty was the Treaty of Versailles. It was developed on the basis that Germany was responsible for the conflict. It gave Alsace and Lorraine to France, Poznan to Poland, and separated East Prussia from the rest of the territory
Read MoreSpain’s Second Republic: A Period of Transformation
The Second Spanish Republic
Proclamation of the Republic and the Constitutional Period
The Constitution of 1931
Elections in early summer (June 28, 1931) won the Republican-Socialist coalition (250 of 464 deputies).
The Reforms of the Biennium (1931 – 1933)
Modernization of the Army
The government believed the army needed profound change, aiming to create a professional and democratic force. They reduced the number of officers, offering retirement through the Retirement Act of Official, which applied
Read MoreThe Revolutionary Six Year Period in Spain (1868-1874)
After signing the Pact of Ostend in 1866, progressives and Democrats from Ostend, along with members of the government and the crown, initiated events that followed the release of “La Gloriosa” in 1868. This revolution ended the reign of Isabella II, who left for France without abdicating, leading to a provisional government under General Francisco Serrano, Duke de la Torre, and prominent figures like Juan Prim and Juan Bautista Topete.
The Revolutionary Six Year Period
Thus began the so-called Revolutionary
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